Continuous grating structure



R. J. BARRY ET AL CONTINUOUS GRATING STRUCTURE June 10, 1947.

s Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March 14, 1944 INVENTORS J. BARRY 65 H LEW/s R/cHAAw CZA/QEA/ L 4222;.. I ATTORNEYS June 10,1947, Y R'. J. BARRY ETAL CONTINUOUS 'GRATING STRUCTURE Filed March 14, 1944 5 Sheet-Sheet 2 JT iH n INV. N 0R5 v R/CHARO' ja ARR) ATTORNEYS June 10,1947. R. J. BARRY E'l AL 2,421,980

CONTINUOUS GRATING STRUCTURE Filed March 14, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-24; v 6 7 14 231 45 .324 7 'IIJIIIIIJ 20 I $2,, I ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1 947 @GNTINUOIJS GRATING .SWRUUTURE :Richard..J.-Bar1 y,,New York,cN.,Yj., and Clarence H. Lewis, Damien, Conn, ,assi'gnors .to "Walter Edward Irving, 'Glenbrook, (101m.

Application March 14, 1944,:.Seria2l;No.52.6,'4s1i4 7Glaims.

mhiszinventionzrelates"to improvements in. continuous grating structures, and more specifically toza splice for coupling thelends of adjacent gratingpanelsrtogetherto-iorm a uniform traiiicbearing grating surface over which motor lvehicles and :the like are adapted to travel.

Traificbearing grating -;structures of the past with which we are gfamiliar have their ends coupledwtogeth'er in a inarnner which-destroys the uniform continuity :of the -.traific-bearing surface of'the gratingsmucture. One cause thereof is due tot'he lapping of the ends of the grating panels which presents added thicknesses of grating :bfils at the traffic-bearing surfaces of the splicediioints between panels, such type of joint being present in the :patents to .Van Hoffer No. 1,629,134, dated May 17, L927; Price No. :1,8"1 7-,463, datedAug-ustd, 193-1; and our prior Patent No. 2,193,287, dated March 12, 1940. This non-uniformity in the tra-fic-bearing surface of the-grating structure :at the joints between panels of presentdnstallations imparts to the occupants of motor vehicles which pass thereovcr, a WEEWing and swaying sensation, similar .-to that experienced when a vehicle isaloout vto-slzid. Ther.e fore, the primary object of this invention resides in a continuous traffic-bearing "grating structure in which the tractionbearing surface constructed of spliced ggrating panels is uniform tthroughout itslentire length, :and whichavoicls theconditions aforesaid.

Another feature of the invention isito provide a continuous grating structure formed ,of ,a plurality of grating panels spliced together at their adjacent ends, which enables qa-maximum Lit-abrication of the panels-in :a shop-anda minimum amount of labor on .a Job during construction .of aitraificebearing grating structure.

A further -feature :of-the invention is the provision of a splice coupling .between the meeting ends-of traffic-bearing grating panels .=is

of sufficient strength to withstan ithe loader-and stresses ito-whichethezsame is subjectedhy :heavy vehicular titanic which may pass thereover when in use.

.Astilliurther feature of the invention is to provideva splice joint between the meeting ends of "two adjacent grating panels. in which the meeting ends of the traflic-bearing surface of straight "bars are disposed in edge to edge .relation :Without disturbing the uniform design of the .meshes' formed :by intermediate crimped strips.

Other novel'sfeaturesof the invention will :become apparent as the iollowing: specificationcis read in conjunction; with the accompanying drawings, in which,

fi ure 1 .isa col1ective fragmentary top plan view of three grating panel sectionsin separated relation and in related position lfor coupling-.130- ather- ZEigure 2,is a iragmentaryitopplan mew-of-the meeting ends of two grating panel's spliced .together, :and a third gDB;IlB1 connected tosone side thereof and Jin lapped {relation .to the pliced joint.

"Eigurett is aside-elevational..view with pants broken away. i

Figure 4 is an .enlarged =vertica1 .sectional riaw onrthe -line A.e-A of ligure 2.

. .Eig'ure,5-isaidetailventicalttransversesectional viewton the line 5H5 lofiEiguregi.

Figure 6 is a detail verticalttransuerselsectional View sonthe line .6--6 1 of Figure 14..

Eig-ure 7 is al fragmentary horizontal sectional View onthe Aline J 'LOfEifiUIBKL.

.Eigure ii-list arfiragmentaljy vhorizontal sectional View: onrthe line .8.-=-8 of ,E'igures h *Figure -9 is,,-a-sectiona1g perspective =view of the cfiset end of one of .thesstraight bars, the dot and ;dash .-lines=,=indicating .the flapping Strai ght barof t-a-n. adjacent panel.

Referring. to the drawings ireference characters,--, and .at presentlto Figures 1 and 2 ;;of ;the drawings, Al-and iB-idesignate twotraific-hearing grating panels arranged in end to end. relation nd t immin l pant uof tone-mow .of,pane1s While C V designates a companion trams-bearing. grating panel rimming-part ofiasecondrowof ,-like. pane1s. The manel C .is disposed inside. by rsiderelation to -;the;panels,A.,and .IB andin lapping relation t'o the ispliced- Joint .therebetween. IIFhe ratin panels .A, .B and-C areaof ca. .like. construction, therefore a description of onewilll-sufficiorqths others.

Each-traffic :bearing. panel iincludesna plllralit of spaced met'a1 [longitudinal ,bars thenumber of saimbars depending =unon the width .oi the panel desired. .The length-(of: the, bars; also depends .upon the length "of the rpanelwdesiredt andtin practice, the length and width will be $511011 ,as .toenable the expeditious-handling. oi the panels .during manufacture, shipment,. and handlin, :llponaiob. Flor illustratienpurposes, four ofisuch longitudinal-.hars have .been-lshowmand.aretdesignated is, M ,gllandstir. ,Interposed-betweenthaloars l,l].-.-Jl. I, rlalv--l. 2,-.1andl l:2:-- I 3lare crimped metal stripslflllj, and (12$ respectively. :A similar ,criinpedstrip ii?! a engagingatheebar I3 ,isealso provided land constitutes one longitudinahside.edge-cf .the panel,

While the other longitudinal edge is defined by the bar Ill.

The straight bars Ill, H, l2 and I3 are of the same length but their ends terminate in alternate staggered relation so that the spliced joints therebetween will be correspondingly staggered to impart additional strength thereto,

Each straight bar terminates at one end in a splicing portion it which is in true alignment with the major portion of the length of the bar, while the other end of each bar terminates in a straight offset splice tongue or extension IS. The tongues 5'9 are offset laterally in the same direction for a distance equal to the thickness of the bars of which they form an integral part. The offset of each bar is designed 2B and is formed by first coping away a portion of the top edge of the tongue 19 as at 2|, slitting the bar horizontally and inwardly from the top coped edge of the tongue as at 22, and finally bending the tongue outwardly a distance equal to the thickness of the bar and in parallel relation thereto. This coping and slitting of the bar provides a shoulder abutment portion 23 adjacent and above the plane of the offset 20 which remains in alinement with the entire trafiic-bearing surface of the bar and against which the end of a splicing portion I8 of a joining panel abuts.

The entire top edge of the tongue I9 is not coped for an upwardly extending lug 24 remains thereon at a point approximately midway the length of the tongue, the purpose of which will be hereafter more fully understood. The length of the lug 24 is approximately that of the flat bar contacting portion 25 of a crimped strip for serving as such when two partial mesh-forming sections of the connected panels A and B are completely spliced together.

Each crimped strip, as previously mentioned, is provided with flat equidistantly spaced bar contacting portions 25, each of which is provided with a rivet hole 26 therein. The straight bars are also provided with equidistantly spaced rivet holes 21 therein which aline with the holes 26 of the crimped strips. The crimped strips are of a height less than that of the bearing bars but their top surfaces are disposed on the same horizontal plane as top surfaces of said bars. The rivet holes 21 in the bars are therefore disposed above the plane of the horizontal mid portion thereof.

The splice tongue I9 is provided with a rivet hole 28 midway between its ends and which is spaced from the adjacent last rivet hole 21 a distance equal to that between the rivet holes 21. The tongue is also provided with two additional rivet holes 2929 which are spaced a distance rom rivet hole 28 on opposite sides thereof for a distance approximately one half the distance between rivet holes 21.

The splicing portion l8 has a rivet hole 30 spaced from the adjacent rivet hole 21 a distance equal to the distance between rivet holes 21. Also, the splice portion i8 is provided with rivet holes 3 I--3l at spaced distance at opposite sides thereof equal to approximately one half the distance between rivet holes 21.

In fabrication of a panel in a shop, the contacting portions 25 of the crimped strips are secured to adjacent bars, except the outer side bar I ll, by rivets 32 which pass through rivet holes 26 in the contacting portions 25 and which register with the holes 27 in said bars. The outer side bar In is connected to the contacting portions of its adjacent crimped strip by temporary fastening such as by bolt and nut means 34. As best seen in Figure 1, the bolt and nut means may skip certain rivet holes for such means is temporary and is removed u n a job to effect a rivet coupling between the longitudinal sides of adjacent panels.

The crimped strips terminate adjacent the ends of straight bars and in alternate staggered relation in order to form a uniform mesh at the spliced joints. The ends of the crimped strips l4 and I6 at that end of the panel having the straight splice portions l8 terminate in one arm 35 of a single crimp. The arms 35 are disposed short of the portions 18. The corresponding ends of the crimped strips l5 and I! terminate in arms 36 which also form part of a single crimp. The arms 36, however, lap a portion of the splice portions I8, and the next adjacent contacting portion 25 of the crimped strips freely engage the respective bars and have their holes 26 in register with the holes 30 for the reception of rivets when the adjacent ends of the grating panels are spliced together.

The ends of the crimped strips which terminate adjacent that end of the panel having the offset splicing tongues l9 are also alternately staggered as best illustrated in Figure 1. The outer arms 31 of the last crimps of the crimped strips l4, l5 and I6 have their ends respectively welded to the confronting sides of tongues IQ of the bars ll, l2 and [3 as at 33. The welded ends of the arms 31 abut the tongues 19 in a vertical plane at the inner ends of the lugs 24. The bar engaging portions 25a of the strips I4 and I6 terminate in spaced relation to the respective adjacent offset tongues ill of the bars in and 12. The end of the strip ll terminates in a single arm 310, having an integral bar contacting portion 251), which is welded to the single arm 36 of the corresponding strip ll of a meeting companion panel.

Assume that three shop fabricated grating panels such as shown at A, B and C in Figure 1 are to be placed in position upon a job to form a continuous traffic-bearing grating structure. The panels A and B are placed in a horizontal position with the offset tongues 19 of the straight bars of panel A disposed in alined confronting relation with the splice portions iii of the straight bars of panel B. One of the panels, A or B, is shifted relative to the other to cause the tongues I!) to assume an overlapping position with respect to the respective splice portions [8. The free ends of the portions I8 of panel B abut the shoulders 23 of panel A, although for expansion purposes the ends of the portions l8 and the shoulders may be spaced a slight distance apart. The holes 3l-3l in the portions l8 register with the holes 29-29 in the tongue l9 and receive rivets 40, The holes 30 of portions ill of panel B register with holes 28 of tongues iii of panel A. The holes 26 of the alternate free end crimps also register with the holes 30 and 28 of related lapping bar ends and receive rivets 4|. The portions ill of bars Ill and [2 of panel B are engaged by the engaging portions 25a of strips [4 and I5 of panel A and the holes 26 therein register with the holes 28 of bars l5 and I2 of panel A and with holes 30 of bars II] and i2 of panel B and receive rivets 4|. With the spliced ends'of the panels riveted together in the manner just described, the free terminal ends 35 of the strips 14 and it are in meeting engagement with the outer end portions of the lugs 24 of bars I! and [3 of panel A and are welded thereto and to the outer side of the offset tongue as at 43. The terminal end 35 of strip [5 of panel B is welded at 43 to the lug 24 of panel B Welded as at 45 to the adjacent termin-a1 end 25b *of strip'fi ofpanel A. The meetin ends of panels A and Bare now spliced together, with the top edges of tlse offset tongues I 8 disposedbelow theplane ofthe alined straight bars of the panels h and B. The partial end crimps 35, 3'6 and $1- of the strips rneet the of their related lugs 24 and 'coact therewith to form complete crimps, the top edges of are on the same plane as the top edge surtaces of the bearing bars, thus forming uniformity of twine-bearing surfaces at the spliced ioint 'between panels.

The bolts li l along bar-s lfloi panels A are replaced by rivets when the panels are placed in position-uponajob. l i

The panel" Cis placed a position in staggered relation to a splice joint between panels A andlB, and the -bolts 84' thereof are also removed and replaced by rivets 44 which pass through the al'ined rivet holesin the bar 1'8, strip rl '4, of panel C and rivet holes 26 in thebuter side crimped strip ll- 3 or panels A and B. It will he understood th'at any number of longitudinal staggered rows of grating panels maybe arranged in horizontal sideiby side relation, depending upon the width of the traflic b'eaaing "structure to he laid.

From the foregoing -:des'cription taken in connection with the' accompanying drawings, it will be understood that therels uniform continuity throughout the continuous traflic-bearing surface of the spliced grating sections, the "movement of traffic thereover being parallel to the "bearing bars. There'is noadded thickness of loans or strips at the spliced joints betweengrating panels, which would tendto 'cause uneven travel of the wheels 413T a vehicle thereoverjiand whichcondition also imparts a. weaving :and swaying sensation to the occupants of a vehicle when passing thereover. Also, thisimproved splice facilitates a maximum shop fabrication of the grating panels and :a minimum of weldin'g and pivoting upon the job, thus :eicpe'diting handling and llaying of the panels in the construction of a grating traffic-bearing structure. t

While we have shown and described what we consider to be the preferred embodiment of our invention, we wish it to be understood that such changes in construction and design as come Within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new is: v

1. A continuous traflic-bearing grating structure comprising in combination, a pair of like rectangular grating panels arranged in horizontal end to end relation, each of said grating panels comprising spaced straight metal bars of uniform thickness with intervening crimped metal strips having their upper edge surfaces disposed on the same plane as the upper edge surfaces of the bars, the adjacent ends of the bars of the panels being in abutting engagement and longitudinal alinement, the abutting ends of the bars of one panel each having a straight laterally offset splicing tongue integral therewith and parallel thereto, the distance of the offset being equal to the width of the bar, the upper edge of the tongue being cut away inwardly from the offset and inwardly from its free end to provide paced-apart portions disposed below the plane of its related bar, said tongues overlappingand engaging the-respective adjacent lends hf the other panel-g rastening means for securing tongues of the bars of one panel to the adjacent ends of the bars of the other panel, and

Y means for securing the adjacent ends of the crimped sjtr ips to the respective tongues at the inner'aends o "the-cut away portionsi ina manner to maintain the continu'ity thereof.

TZJ A 'contir-iuous traflicloearing grating struts.- ture comprising in combination, a pair of like rectangulargrating panels arranged in horizon-- till end to end re'la'tion, each o fsaid gratin pan els comprising spaced straight metal barsofruniform thickness w ith intervenin crimped metal strips having their upper edge surfaces disposed on the'same plane as the uppei edge surfaces of the bars, the adjacent ends or the :bars: of the panels being in abutting engagement and dongltudinal -al inement, the abutting ends of thehars of one panel each having havinga-straig ht iaterally offset splicir-rg tongue integral therewith and "parallel thereto, the distance of the onset being equal to th widtnor the bar, the upper edge *of the tongue being out :away inwardly them the offset portion and inwardly from the free end "thereof to provide spaced apart portions which are disposed below the ilament its related -bar, said tongues overlapping and engaging the respective adjacent-ends of .the' dther panel, fastening means tor securing the tongues er the bars of one panel to the adjacent lends loif the bars of the other panel, the upper edge of the tongue between the: :cut away "portiilons 'consti tuting an upstanding dug, the adjacent end portions :of :a :pair or the corresponding; strips of the two panels coactingaomomnta crimp, said end portions heingwelded :to an adjacent tongue at IijhelIBfiDECti-WG iB'i IdS :ofithe ilug thereof.

3 a continuous'itraffic-rheaming grating :stnuctune :cempr is'ing Lin combination a :pair .zozf like rectangular-grating lpanels :arnanged" in end to end 1 relation, reach of :said panels "comprisingspaced straight, metal bars of uniform thickness with intervening crimped rmetal strips hating-their upper edge :snrfaoeshisposed an the same planenasthe nipperzedge surfaces :of the bars,:the adjacent ends of the hairs ofiithezpaanel-s being tabntln'ngengagement :and longitudinal alinement, the ends of the bars of one panel each having a straight laterally offset splicing tongue integral therewith and parallel thereto, the distance of the offset being equal to the width of the bar, the upper edge of the tongue being cut away at its ends, the tongues of the bars of one panel overlapping and engaging the respective ends of the bars of the other panel, and welds fixedly securing the adjacent ends of certain of the crimped strips to the tongues at the inner ends of the cut away portions at the joint formed by the overlapping tongues and adjacent bar ends to maintain the continuity of the strips at the joints therebetween.

4. A continuous traffic-bearing grating structure comprising in combination, a pair of like grating panels arranged in end to end relation, each of said grating panels including spaced straight metal bars of uniform thickness with intervening crimped metal strips having their upper edge surfaces disposed on the same plane as the upper edge surfaces of the bars, the ends of the bars of one panel terminating in laterally offset portions defining shoulders at the inner ends thereof, the distance of the offset of each offset portion being equal to the width of the bar, the offset portions of the bars of one panel overlapping the-adjacent ends of the bars of the other panel with the shoulders thereof in confronting relation to the ends of said' bars, the top edge of each of the offset portions being cut away at its ends and disposed below the plane of the overlapping end of the adjacent bar, the top edge portion of each offset portion intermediate the cut away portions constituting an upstanding lug the adjacent terminal end portions of the corresponding strips of the two panels cooperating with the lugs to form crimps, and weld joints securing the ends of thecrimped strips to the adjacent bars.

5. A continuous traflic-bearing grating structure comprising in combination, a pair of like grating panels arranged in end to'end relation, each of said grating panels including spaced straight metal bars of uniform thickness with intervening crimped metal strips having their upper edge surfaces disposed on the same plane as the upper edge surfaces of the bars, the ends of the bars of one panel terminating in laterally onset portions defining shoulders at the inner ends thereof, the distance of the offset of each offset portion being equal to the width of the bar, the offset portions of the bars of one panel over-lapping the adjacent ends of the bars of the other panel with the shoulders thereof in confronting relation to the ends of said bars, the top edges of the offset portions being cut away at their ends and disposed below the plane of the overlapping ends of the adjacent bars, and means for securing the adjacent ends of the crimped strips to the bars at the inner ends of the cut away portions to maintain the continuity of the traffic bearing surfaces at the joint therebetween.

6. A continuous traffic-bearing grating structure comprising in combination, a pair of like grating panels arranged in end to end relation, each of said grating panels comprising a series of spaced straight metal bars of uniform thickness with intervening crimped metal strips having their upper surfaces on the same plane as the upper edge surfaces of said bars, the ends of the bars at one end of the panel constituting splicing portions, straight offset splicing tongues integral with the other ends of said bars and parallel thereto, the distance of the offset being 8 the same as the thickness of the bars, each of said tongues having its upper edge cut away inwardly from the offset of the tongue and inwardly from the free end thereof, the intervening portion of the top edge of the tongue between the cut away portions constituting an upstanding lug forming part of a full crimp, the offset tongues of one grating panel overlapping the respective splicing portions of the other panel whereby the straight bars of the pair of panels are in longitudinal alinement, fastening means passing transversely through the lapping tongues and splice portion, one terminal end of each crimped strip of one panel being disposed on the offset side of each adjacent bar and terminating in anfarm forming a part of a crimp and being welded to the tongue at the inner end of the lug, the adjacent end of each complementary crimped strip of the other panel terminating in an arm of a crimp and meeting the outer end of the lug and being welded thereto, the upper surfaces of the arms being on the same plane as the upper surface of the lug and cooperating therewith to provide a complete crimp.

'7. A continuous traflic-bearing grating as set forth in claim 6 including arms forming partial crimps at the meeting ends of the crimped strips disposed on that side of the bars opposite the offset of the tongues and being welded together to provide complete crimps.

RICHARD J. BARRY. CLARENCE H. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,733,923 Voskamp Oct. 29, 1929 1,982,109

Keown Nov. 27, 1934 OTHER REFERENCES (Copy in class 94 and subclass 

